Bicycle attachment.



PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905.

B. R. PEPPER.

BICYCLE ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 11, 1903.

3 INVENTOH I Patented March '7, 1905r FFICE.'

BRUCE REAVES PEPPER, OF YAZOO CITY, MISSISSIPPI.

BICYCLE ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,345, dated March 7,1905.

Application filed November 11, 1903i Serial No. 180,714.

To It whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BRUCE REAvEs PEPPER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Yazoo City, in the county of Yazoo and State ofMississippi, have invented a new and Improved Bicycle Attachment, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved bicycleattachment arranged to store up power on a downgrade for use inpropelling the bicycle on a level grade or on an upgrade to renderriding as easy as possible.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointedout in the claims.

A'practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is anenlarged crosssection of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig 1. Fig. 3 is anenlarged sectional side elevation of the improvement; and Fig. 4 is aplan view of the same, the wheel and its spring being shown in section.

The device as illustrated in the drawings is attached to a bicycle ofusual construction, and the device is preferably located below and inthe rear of a saddle A to be within convenient reach of the rider. Thedevice is mounted above a rear wheel 0 on a supportingplate I), clippedor otherwise secured to the rear fork B of the bicycle, and on the saidsupporting-plate D is formed an upwardly-disposed guideway I), in whichis mounted to move a slide E, in which is journaled one end of a shaftF, projecting rearwardly and formed at its other end into afork F,carrying the fixed shaft G of a wheel G, the rim of which is concaved tofit the tire of the rear wheel 0, so that when the latter rotates on thebicycle, be ing propelled forward inthe usual manner, then the wheel (Jris turned in the direction of the arrow a to wind up a spring H,contained within the wheel and secured at its inner end to the shaft Gand at its outer end to the rim of the wheel, as plainly indicated inFig. 1. The peripheral face of the rim of the wheel G is provided withcorrugations or serrations G engaged by a pawl I to prevent the wheelfrom accidentally turning out of a vertical position and to hold thewheel (ir against return movement when the spring H is wound up. Thepawl I is fulcrulned on a spring I, held on the shaft F (see Fig. andserving to hold the pawl in engagement with the corrugations G The rearend of the pawl I is adapted to be engaged by a cam 1, formed on a hubI", loosely fitting the shaft F and connected by a brace I with theslide I 1, so as to move with the latter.

When the wheel (Jr is in the position shown in Fig. 1 for winding up thespring I-I, then the pawl I engages the corrugations (1*; but when theshaft F is turned for reversing the wheel G then the cam I imparts aswinging motion to the pawl I, so as to move the same out of engagementwith the corrugations of the rim G2. One side, G, of the rim of thewheel G is preferably made wider than the opposite side, (see Fig. 4,)so that in making the half-turn the side G will strike against the tire,thus insuring proper alinement.

Now in order to turn the shaft F and the wheel G to bring the latterinto a reversed position for the spring H to uncoil to rotate the wheelG in the reverse direction and assist in driving the wheel 0 forward inthe direction of the arrow 1) the following device is provided: On theshaft F is secured or formed a pinion J, adapted to be engaged by theteeth K of a segment K, 'fulcrumed at K on the supporting-plate D, sothat when a swinging motion is given to the said segment K then theteeth K rotate the pinion J and the shaft Ffor the latter to make acomplete half-turn, so as to reverse the position of the wheel (1relative to the tire of the wheel C.

The segment K at the ends of the teeth K is provided with cam-faces K"K" for engaging the shaft F, so as to lift the same to move the wheel Gra short distance upward immediately previous to turning the wheel, sothat the concave rim of the wheel Gr moves out of engagement with thetire of the wheel G to allow convenient turning of the wheel.

A guard-rail L is secured to the segment K, through which extends theshaft F to insure propTer meshing of the teeth K with the pin- ]On a Itis understood that the pinion J has teeth but one-half around itscircumference, as only one-half a turn needs to be given to the shaft Ffor reversing the position of the wheel G.

Now it is evident that when the wheel G is reversed, with the spring Hwound up, it is only necessary for the rider to release the pawl I, sothat the force of the spring H in uncoiling causes the wheel G to turnin the reverse direction of the arrow a to rotate the bicycle-wheel C inthe direction of the arrow 6, thus assisting in propelling the bicycleonlevel ground or when going uphill. It is understood that the wheel G isheld in engagement with the wheel C when in the position shown in Fig. 1during the time the bicycle moves down a hill, so that no extra power isrequired on the part of the rider to wind up the spring H, and when thespring H has been wound up the wheel G is moved out of engagement withthe tire of the Wheel C, and when it is desired to use the wheel G forpropelling purposes, as above described, then a half-turn is given tothe wheel G, and the latter is then moved back into engagement with thetire (I, after which the pawl I is released to allow the force of thespring H to turn the wheel G for the purpose mentioned.

In order to hold the wheel G in an intermediate or inactive position,the segment K is provided with a handle N within convenient reach of therider for imparting a swingmg motion to the segmentK, and on the saidhandle N is arranged a locking-lever O, adapted to engage a notchedsegment 0', fixed on the supporting-plate D, to allow of giving thesegment but a short swinging motion to move the wheel G into an inactiveposition and hold it there until it is desired to move the wheel backinto an active position, either for wind- 1ng up the spring H or forallowing the same to uncoil, as above described.

On the fork F of the shaft F are arranged bells P and P, of whi'ch'oneis adapted to be sounded when the spring is wound up and the other isadapted to be sounded when the spring is completely unwound, so that theoperator can correspondingly shift the wheel G, as above described, tobring the wheel into an inactive position.

Although I have shown and described the device attached to a bicycle, itis evident that it may be applied to other wheeled vehicles, and insteadof a spring-actuated motor, as shown, another motor may be used andarranged for bodily engagement with a rotatable part of the vehicle foractuating the motor to store power and for the motor to drive therotatable part when reversed.

Having thusdescribed my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. Abicycle attachment comprisingawheel, a springadapted to be wound up by said wheel and arranged to drive the latter, ashaft having a fork in which the wheel is journaled, a pinion on saidshaft, a support on the bicycle for said shaft, and amanually-controlled segment engaging the pinion on said shaft forturning the latter.

2. In a device of the character described, a wheel, a spring adapted tobe wound up by said wheel and arranged to drive the same, said wheelhaving corrugations on its outer periphery, a pawl for engaging saidcorrugations, a shaft having a fork in which the wheel is journaled, asupport on the bicycle in which support the shaft is rotatable, and aneccentric for automatically controlling said pawl when said shaft isrotated.

3. A, bicycle attachment comprising a motor-wheel adapted to be broughtinto engagement with the rear wheel of the bicycle, a spring within saidmotor-wheel adapted to be wound up by the same and arranged to drive thelatter, a shaft extending in a substantially horizontal direction abovethe rear wheel of the bicycle on which shaft said motor-wheel isjournaled, a support for said shaft, a pinion on said shaft, the shaftbeing adapted to be turned a fourth of a revolution in a plane at rightangles to the plane of its working rotation to throw the motor out ofengagement with the wheel driven thereby, and to be turned a half arevolution to bring the opposite side of the motor-wheel into engagementwith the wheel of the bicycle, and a manually-operated rack for engagingsaid pinion to turn said shaft.

4:. A bicycle attachment comprising a motor-wheel in engagement with therear wheel of the bicycle, a spring within said motorwheel adapted to bewound up by the same and arranged to drive the latter, a shaft on whichthe wheel is journaled, a support on the bicycle for carrying saidshaft, said shaft being adapted to be turned a fourth of a revolution ina plane at right angles to the plane of its working rotation to throwthe motor out of engagement with the wheel driven thereby and to beturned a half-revolution to bring the opposite side of the motor-wheelinto engagement with the wheel of the bicycle, and manually-controlledmeans for turning said shaft.

5. A bicycle attachment comprising a wheel,

a spring adapted to be wound up by the said wheel and arranged to drivethe latter, a shaft having a fork in which the wheel is journaled, apinion on said shaft, a support on the bicycle, provided with aguideway, a slide in the said guideway, in which the shaft is journaled,and a manually-controlled segment engaging the pinion on the said shaft,for turning the latter, as set forth.

6. A bicycle attachment comprising a wheel, a spring adapted to be woundup by the said wheel and arranged to drive the latter, a shaft having afork in which the wheel is journaled, a pinion on said shaft, a supporton the bicycle, provided with a guideway, a slide in the said guideway,in which the shaft is journaled, and a manually-controlled segmentengaging the pinion on the said shaft, for turning the latter, the saidsegment having means for imparting an initial sliding motion to theshaft and the slide in which it is journaled, previous to turning theshaft, as set forth. I

7. A bicycle attachment comprising a wheel, a spring adapted to be woundup by the said wheel and arranged to drive the latter, a shaft having afork in which the wheel is journaled, a pinion on said shaft, a supporton the bicycle, provided with a guideway, a slide in the said guideway,in which the shaft is journaled, a manually controlled segment engagingthe pinion on the said shaft, for turning the latter, the said segmenthaving means for imparting an initial sliding motion to the shaft andthe slide in which it is journaled, previous to turning the shaft, and alocking device for locking the said segment in a desired position, asset forth.

8. A bicycle attachment comprising a motor-wheel adapted to be broughtinto engagement with the rear wheel of the bicycle, and a spring withinsaid motor-wheel adapted to be wound up by the same and arranged todrive the latter, a rotatable shaft on which said motor-wheel issupported, said shaft being disposed to bring its axis out of alinementwith the radius of the bicycle-wheel, whereby to adapt it to be turned afourth of a revolution to throw the motor outof engagement with thebicycle-wheel and to be turned a halfrevolution to bring the oppositeside of the motor-wheel into engagement with said wheel of the bicycle,to deliver its stored-up power thereupon to assist in propelling thesame.

9. An attachment for wheeled vehicles, consisting of a motor arrangedfor frictional engagement with the rim of a wheel of the vehicle, foractuating the motor, to store power, the motor being adapted to bebodily turned a half-revolution for reengaging its opposite side withthe rotatable part, to drive the latter, the said motor having areversible wheel, and a spring adapted to be wound up by the reversiblewheel and arranged to unwind, to drive the reversible Wheel when thelatter is reversed and for holding the same in an intermediate inactiveposition, as set forth.

10. A bicycle provided at its rear fork with a supporting-plate having aguideway, a slide in the said guideway, ashaft journaled in the saidslide and provided with a fork, a wheel journaled in the said fork, aspring inthe wheel, having one end fastened to the wheelrim and theother to the wheel-shaft, and means for reversing the said shaft, as setforth.

11. A bicycle provided at its rear fork with a supporting-plate having aguideway, aslide in the said guideway, a shaft journaled in the saidslide and provided with a fork, a wheel journaled in the said fork, aspring in the wheel, having one end fastened to the wheelrim and theother to the wheel-shaft, and means for reversing the said shaft, thesaid means comprising a pinion on the said shaft, a segment mounted toswing on the support and engaging the said pinion and cam-faces on thesaid segment, for engaging the said shaft, as set forth. 12. A bicycleprovided atits rear fork with a supporting-plate having a guideway. aslide in the said guideway, a shaft journaled in the said slide andprovided with a fork, a wheel journaled in the said fork, a spring inthe wheel, having one end fastened to the wheelrim and the other to thewheel-shaft, and means for reversing the said shaft, the said meanscomprising a pinion on the said shaft, a segment mounted to swing on thesupport and engaging the said pinion, cam-faces on the said segment, forengaging the said shaft, and an operating and locking device for thesaid segment, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

BRUCE REAVES PEPPER. l/Vitnesses:

J. E. EVERETT, B. F. ALFORD.

